I'LL BE DOIN' SOME OF THESE

When I first spotted this picture, it reminded me of some of the psychedelic posters of the 60's that used to adore dorm walls. Popular on LPs, the psychedelic artwork appeared on covers. At ISU my roomie Lindy and I cranked out Vanilla Fudge's album many nights.

"You just keep me hanging on," could be heard blaring from Manchester Hall Room 808. I don't know why we played it so often, so loudly and even set up his stereo speakers in our windows to allow others to hear our music. But that, as they say, was then.

At 7 AM today, I have my annual physical. When the new year started,I had such hope for a renewal, at least a return to my normal body size. I was doing great. In March I was down a whopping 17 pounds for the year. In my weigh in today, I'm afraid the scales are going to reveal a net loss approximating 4 pounds. If I'm lucky.

What happened? Well, I got lazy, but recently started my 2-mile walk almost daily. A few exercises in the pool have been added infrequently. But snacks, especially Diet Cokes have been my downfall. Along with Hershey chocolates. Oh, I'm weak. Potato chips, too, though for the past 3 weeks, I've resorted to Baked Lays. Needless to say, my potato consumption has dropped. You know what's worse than Baked Lays? Almost nothing.

So when I gingerly stand on the doctor's scales, but they show a big, big number, I'll be at the wrath of Dr. Lakin. He won't yell too much. He can't. He's also a professional clown. That's how he worked his way through Med School at John Hopkins. But he'll devise a plan. A strategy. He'll know in advance that I'll fail as always, but he'll try to be positive.

He'll e-mail me with all my test results. And I'll see him next Summer. A trimmer, a more svelte patient. Who am I kidding?

Wish me luck. (By the way, if you're not visually adept enough to figure our psychedelic stuff, the picture shows a guy touching his toes.)